Platform release



Oct. 1'1, 1921. l 1644 891 J. H. MYRE PLATFORM RELEASE Filed septo, 19264 Vgl/lilla ra xL.L= :x l v I INVENToR. dama?. Myne,

/ -ATT0RNEY- l Patented Get. l1, 1927.

musei AT E E .@Fffll.

rLa'rFoaM annalisa.

Application led September 20, 1926,. Serial No. 136,514.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement ina platformrelease adapted for use on a zgame mechanism, one arrangei'nent of whichis commonly known as. an `African dip, such as is shown in my UnitedStates Patent No. 1,593,267, in which a person is seated ona swing-ableplatform and upon the player striking the target is dropped from theplatform on to a slide and thence precipitated into a tank of' water.The `present mechanismy relates yparticularly to the releasing of theswingable platform, and it is ymy intention to embody in thepresentapplication such modilications, adaptations aiid variations ofthe" invention as will permit its use on various devices where aswingable plat-forni is used.

In the'specitled use of the invention, the

release is effected by the closingl of an electrical circuit upon astriking of ine target by the player, and an electrical latch isreleased to permit the irelease of the'retaining mechanism supportingthe platform.

ln various modifications ofsuch a 'release has been discovered that therelease sometimes becomes diiiicult'and ,the mechanism fails to operateshould the persons seated on the patforin `be of a weight exceeding` acertain 'number of pounds.

The present invention has for its objectV the provision of arelease'mechanism ofjthis classwhich will serve ltojretain the platformin readily releasable positioin'regardless of the weight placed upon theplatform.

Another object of the invention is theV provision of a mechanism ofth'iss which will be quite*durable in use, and free from dimculties arisingthrough the various partsy becoming jdisarranged or rendered inoperativefor .any reason. 'i

`Another object of the invention ist-lie provision of a mechanism orfIthis class whereby the retaining mechanism may be easily and quicklymoved to operative position.

Another obj-ect of the invention is provision of a device of this classwhich the will be simple in structure, economical 'of manufacture andhighly ehicieiitjinluse.

Other ,objects will appear hereinafter. The invention yconsists in ,thecombination 4and arrangement of parts hereinaftern described andclaimed. i

`The invention will behest understood by a reference to the accompanyingdrawings which form al 'part' Vof this specification and in which,

Fig. l is a vertical sectional View illus-- trating the invention inside elevation.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view tali-en on substantially line 2 2 of Fig. l.I

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on substantially line 3 3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary viewsiinilar to lextending bar 13' whichvprojects thiougha slotlel Aformed in the' upper wall of the housing 7so as to prevent downwardly swinging of the platform 10. Mounted'on Ithe wall l of the :housing rotatably is a roller 1G which is adapted toengage one edgevof'the bar 13, a similar roller 1.7 being "rotatablymounted on the wall `15 and engaging 'the opposite edgeof the bar 13adjacent its lower end. A shaft l-is supported on the wall lby outwardlyprojecting' bolts .19 and 2Q,`and`rotatably mounted on the shaft 18 is aroller 2l*v which engages the outer face of the' bar 13 and serves'toprevent"withdrawal of this bar from the wall l5 adjacent its Vlowereend, the slot le retaining thebar 13 jin position-at its upper end.

Projectingeutwardly from the wall l5 is bolt' or threaded stud 22.whichlprojects Athrough an enlarged opening '23 `formed in lever 2e which 'ispivota'llycon'nected `by neans of the bolt to the `bar 13. Con ii'ectedat one endrto the free end o f the lever 2a is a spring 26,`A the otherend of which is v-connected to a bolt 27 inounted'on the wall l5 andprojecting through an enlarged `opening 28 formed in ,the levery 29which is pivotally connected by the boltSOto a horizontally lentendingactuating locl; bolt 31. The lock boltfl isprovided aton'eend with anoseA 32 adapted to engage' behind the latch -33 which is`electricallyoperated, the oper ating mechanism of the latch 33 being awell-known type and positioned in the .housing llwhichf is positioned intliefrecess 35 formed in the sujniorting` member 8. Since thislatchii'igT mechanism formed of itself no specific part of the presentinvention fit is llO not shown in detail as its structure is wellknown.

Connected at one end to the opposite end of the lever 29 is a spring35', the other end of which is connected to a bolt 36 projected throughthe'tree 37 of a yoke forming bracket between the arms 38 and 39, inwhich is positioned a roller 4() rotatably mounted upon the bolt41`which projects outwardly from the wall 15.` A similar yoke 42 isprovided between the arms in which is positioned a roller 43. As shownin Fig. 2 on the bolt 41 there is mounted in embracing relation a coilspring 44 and a nut 45 is threaded on the bolt 41 so that a threading ofthe nut 45 will adjust .the tension of the spring 44, the other end ofwhich engages against a shaft, 46 siidably mounted on the bolt 41 at oneend, and at its other end slidably mounted on the bolt 47, which is alsopositioned "with a spring 48 and an adjusting nut 49,

this bolt 47 projecting outwardly from the wall 15. Rotatably mounted onthe shaft 46 is a roller 50 which is adapted to engage the outer surfaceof the lock Vbolt 31 so as to` normally retain, in response to thepressure of the springs 44 and 48, the vlock bolt 31 in engagementwiththe surface of the wall ,15. A pin 51 is projected through the shaft 46tofprevent the vniovement of the roller 50 downward on the shaft 46. Asimilar roller 50 is mounted on a shaft 46 similarly supported in themanner of the supporting of the shaft 46, this roller 50 also engagingthey surface of the lock boltV 31. Rotatably mounted on the lower end ofthebar 13 is a roller 52 which engages the upper edge of Y the lock bolt31 and is adapted upon movement of the lock bolt 3 1 into apredetermined position, for engaging in the recess or pocket 53 formedin the upper edge of the lock bolt 31.

In operation the lever 29 is moved into the position shown in Fig. 1 bymeans of a strain exerted on the cord 54.V This 4movement of the lever29 on its pivot 27 stretches the spring 35 and causes a longitudinalmovement of the lock bolt 3l so as to force the Y roller 52 out of thepocket or recess 53 into the position shown in Fig. 1, thus forcing thebar 13 vertically upwardly so as to lie in a position to engage theshoulder 12. The movement of the bar 13 vertically upwardly causes astretching of the spring 26. When the lock bolt 31 is moved into theposition shown in Fig.` 1 it engages behind the latch 33, the vlatch 33serving to retain the lock bolt 31 in its position against the tensionof the springs.v Upon a releasing of the latch 33 through a closing ofthe circuit through the wires 55 and 56 which connect to the switch 57,which, in turn, connects, by means of the wires 58'and 59, to a suitableswitch which may be closed at will, the lock bolt 31 is moved into theposition shown in Fig. 4,

so that a person of any weight may be used in the game.

It is believedthat the durability of the structure is apparent from thedescription, and it is also to be noted that the tension of the roller5() and 50 will determine, to a certain extent, the pressure of thespring 35 required to move the lock bolt 31 horizontally. j

iVhile have illustrated and described the preferred form of myinvention, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise form ofstructure shown, but desire to avail myself of such variations andmodifications as may come' within the scopev of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a swingably mountedplatform; a supporting arm on saidplatform; a movable member forengaging said arm and locking said platform against swingable movement;y

pocket bearing means for engaging said movable member and preventingmovement "i swingable movement ;v movable means for engaging saidmovable member and retaining the same in operative position, saidlmovable means having a'pocket formed on its engaging surface; and meansoperable at will for moving said movable means to a predeterminedposition, said movable member upon movement of said movable means tosaid predetermined position moving into engagement in said pocket toinoperative position and releasing said platform for swingable movement.

3. A device of the'class described comprising a swingable platform;supporting means for said platform; a movable vmember llfi for enoaeinf`said su) ortinof means for` D v h 2D locking ysaid platform againstswingable movement in one direction; a movable means for engaging saidmovable member for normally retaining said movable member in operativeposition in engagement vWith said supporting member, said movable meanshaving a recess formed therein adapted for the reception of said movablemember upon movementA of said movable means into. a predeterminedposition, the movement of said movable member into engagement with saidrecess effecting a disengagement of said movable member with saidsupporting member; resilient means for movingsaid movable means intopredetermined position; and means releasable at Will for resistingmovement of said movable means.

4. A device of the class described comprising a sivingable platform; asupport for said platform; a movable member for engaging said supportand preventing swingable movement of said platform; a movable means forengaging said movable member and normally retaining tlie same inengagement with said support, said movable means being provided with arecess for the reception of said movable member upon movement of saidmovable means to a predetermined position7 the movement of said movablemember intp engagement with said recess effecting a disengagement ofsaid movable member from said support; means for gaging said support,and preventing, 'during suoli engagement, swinging movement of saidplatform; movable means for engaging said movable member and normallyretaining the same in said engagement, said movable means being providedWith a recess for tlie' reception of one end of said movable member uponmovementof said movable means to a predetermined position; releasablemeans for preventing movement of said movable means to saidpredetermined position; resilient means for moving said movable means tosaid predetermined position upon release of said preventing means; andresilient means for moving said movable member into engagement With saidrecess upon movement of said movable means to said predeterminedposition.

In testimonyv whereof I have signed the foregoing.

JAMES H. MYRE,`

